GAZA — Israeli forces killed Yusuf Al-Zaq, a 17-year-old Palestinian teen who was born in Israeli jail and the world’s youngest former prisoner, in a drone strike on Friday. The attack targeted his family’s apartment on Al-Thawra Street in central Gaza City.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office confirmed his death in a statement. “Yusuf Al-Zaq, the youngest prisoner in the world, was martyred after Israeli occupation forces bombed his family’s home,” the office said.
Yusuf’s story began behind bars. He was born in an Israeli prison in 2008 to his mother, Fatima Al-Zaq, a former political prisoner who was arrested while seeking medical treatment outside Gaza. At the time of her arrest, she didn’t know she was pregnant.
Fatima later gave birth to Yusuf while detained. She raised him in a tiny cell for nearly two years, facing poor medical care and harsh conditions. Israeli prison authorities shackled her during movement and denied both mother and child proper treatment, according to human rights reports.
Fatima once said she named her son after the Prophet Yusuf (Joseph), whose story gave her hope during imprisonment.
Yusuf and his mother were freed in October 2009 as part of a deal in which Israel released 20 Palestinian female prisoners in exchange for a video from Hamas resistance movement proving that captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was alive. Shalit was later released in the 2011 Wafaa Al-Ahrar exchange, which freed over 1,000 Palestinian detainees.
Yusuf grew up as a symbol of Palestinian resilience. His killing has sent shockwaves through Gaza.
Since Israel resumed its genocide in March 2025, over 7,300 Palestinians have been killed, and 26,000 injured, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Israel’s genocide in Gaza, backed by the US since October 7, 2023, has resulted in more than 195,000 Palestinians killed or wounded. Most are women and children. Over 10,000 remain missing, and widespread famine has claimed the lives of countless civilians, including dozens of children.
C. QNN
